Goldilocks: Arduino Compatible with ATmega1284P MCU

[Update - we're taking feedback for a new '1284P-powered board!] Have you run out of RAM in your project, and find the Uno just doesn't quite cut it? But the much more powerful ARM-based Arduinos such as the Due are too big, and don't work with your 5V Arduino shields? Goldilocks is the answer: an Arduino-compatible board designed to be not too big, and not...

Have you run out of RAM in your project, and find the Uno just doesn't quite cut it? But the much more powerful ARM-based Arduinos such as the Due are too big, and don't work with your 5V Arduino shields?

Goldilocks is the answer: an Arduino-compatible board designed to be not too big, and not too small. It's just right.

The ATmega1284p MCU is significantly more powerful than the ATmega328p and ATmega32u4 found in common 8-bit Arduino boards. With more memory and a higher clock speed than standard Arduino boards this may be just what you need to get your project done.

Freetronics Goldilocks

Arduino Uno

Arduino Leonardo

SRAM

16kB

2kB

2.5kB

Flash

128kB

32kB

32kB

EEPROM

4kB

1kB

1kB

Clock

20MHz

16MHz

16MHz

Features

5V operation compatible with the widest possible range of shields

ATmega1284P primary MCU

ATmega32u2 secondary MCU for USB-serial conversion

Isolation cuts so you can reconfigure every I/O pin individually

Prototyping area to add your own parts

Breakouts in top right outside shield footprint to add vertical modules etc

Optional SPI cross-links between primary and secondary MCUs for advanced features such as running the secondary MCU as a dedicated onboard programmer for uploading directly without using the Arduino bootloader

TX/RX isolation cuts so you can run the primary and secondary MCUs independently as if it was 2 Arduinos on one PCB

Breakouts for ATmega32u2 I/O so you can have it interact with other devices independently of the primary MCU

Dual hardware serial ports on primary MCU. The second serial port has been placed on pins D2/D3 to make it drop-in compatible with the Arduino WiFi shield. No more software serial required!

7-28V input voltage range switchmode power supply with up to 2A output for high-current shields such as GSM shields

JTAG breakout for primary MCU for advanced debugging

I2C breakouts near prototyping area

Optional I2C cross-links between the R3 position and A4/A5, allowing you to decide if you want I2C on the A4/A5 headers for compatibility with R2 shields or want it separate so you can use A4/A5 as independent pins while still using I2C on the R3 headers

Independent reset buttons for the primary and secondary MCUs

Onboard 32.768kHz crystal for ATmega1284P internal RTC feature

LEDs placed on extended tab for visibility when a shield is placed on top